Murray Popenhagen, Managing Director
Murray has worked in the electricity supply industry for over 35 years.
Murray commenced with the Timaru Municipal Electricity Department in 1969 where he completed NZCE (Heavy Electrical) before taking a design role in the department’s overhead-underground conversion programme.
During this time Murray carried out design work on heavy cable installation between zone substations, design of ground level and underground distribution substations, design of EHV and LV reticulation systems and street lighting in the inner commercial area and suburban areas of Timaru. More about Murray Popenhagen >
Ian Boud, Director
Electrical Registration (Advanced Trade Certificate)
Ian is a director of Peak Power and has twenty one years experience in the electrical supply industry in addition to five years as an industrial electrician. Ian has worked in all areas of the electrical supply industry and managed his own company contracting to the supply industry in Southland and Otago.
Ian’s particular focus is on designing supply systems.
David Evans, Manager - Wanaka Branch
Electrical Registration (electrician)
David Evans has recently joined the group to manage our new branch in Wanaka. David has a total of 21 years experience in the electrical industry. David completed an electrical apprenticeship with G W Streat (later Streat Electrical) working in all facets of the electrical industry from domestic to heavy industrial installations. David continued his development working as site foreman, contracts administrator, and then finally as estimator and contracts manager for the company.The last ten years in the position as South Island Manager for Olex Cables.
During his time at Olex he was seconded to Olex Australia to manage the installation of the 66kV underground cable upgrade for Orion in Christchurch, he was also heavily involved in introducing Olex’s industrial and data/comms ranges to the New Zealand market. After the purchase of Olex by Nexans David was part of a team from both Australia and New Zealand whose primary focus was to introduce new ranges of Industrial and High Power cables to markets sectors such as wind energy, petrochemical, and mining.
David extensive knowledge of the electrical industry and cable design coupled with his background in sales and marketing brings additional strength to the management team.Dave Dunlop , Project Manager
Dave Dunlop has recently joined Peak Power after moving from Balclutha to live in Cromwell. Dave commenced with the Otago Electric Power Board (OEPB) in 1971 as draughting Cadet eventually becoming chief draughtsman in 1984.
During this time Dave carried out design work on EHV and LV reticulation systems and street lighting in the rural and urban areas of coastal Otago. In 1992 he implemented a CAD Design system in the Power Board’s design office. In 1995 he implemented the conversion of the paper based reticulation maps and plans into computerized geographic information system (GIS).
Following Government legislative changes in 1998, Otago Power Ltd becoming a Line Company and Dave was put in charge of creating a Network Billing system. Also at this time the Commerce Commission required Line Companies to do Network Valuations, Dave was put in charge of the project and had to develop database systems to accomplish this. Dave carried on his roll as Design Office Supervisor through this period.
In 2000 PowerNet took over the management of the Otago Power Network and Dave became a Project Manager responsible for all new customer connections and vegetation control.
In 1996 Dave was sole responsible for the creation of an easement corridor for a proposed 110KV power line from Palmerston to Macraes Flat to supply the Macraes Gold mine, which included the design of a power line.
He dropped his role in the design and GIS systems and became responsible for the installation of a project management system which is used on the three networks controlled by PowerNet Ltd. Dave has developed mobile computer systems for the field staff of the PowerNet contractors to manage substation assets, pole inspections and vegetation management.
Allan Rickard, Project Supervisor
Electrical Registration (line mechanic)
AlIan has worked in the electricity supply industry since 1986, firstly in Winton with Southland Electric Power Supply, followed by The Power Company and latterly PowerNet. Allan’s duties included overhead lines construction, maintenance and faults work.
Towards the end of this period Allan was appointed to take charge of 66kV line construction for PowerNet and in this role was responsible for the construction of the Te Anau-Monowai stages 1 and 2, Otautau-Riverton and Riverton-Underwood 66kV lines.
Following the set up of private contracting companies in Southland Allan was a Director/Shareholder for Power Construction South for three years and then, after Power Construction was sold to Delta Utility Services, worked for that company for four years.
For the last eighteen months with Delta Allan carried out design and planning work.With his extensive supervisory experience, particularly in the areas of overhead line construction and maintenance, Allan is well-placed for his role of Project Supervisor with Peak Power.
Alan Harrison, Team Leader Cables
Electrical Registration (line mechanic), live line certificate (level one)
Alan has worked in the electrical supply industry for twenty-two years, initially as an overhead line mechanic and faults person. With the strong underground conversion programme taking place in Invercargill Alan decided to specialise in this work and trained to become a cable jointer on all types and voltages of distribution cables and in general underground cable reticulation work.
With fifteen years of cable jointing experience, Alan can complete jointing and terminations on all types of cable up to 66kV, paper lead and XLPE.
Alan has an extensive list of unit standards in electricity supply and is a registered cable jointing training assessor with the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation.
Within Peak Power, Alan is our principal cable jointer. He provides the technical guidance to all jointing and underground installation staff and is the trainer in all areas of this work. Alan’s overall expertise is highly valued by the company.
Heath Duthie, Team Leader Electrical
Electrical Registration (electrician)
Heath has been employed in the electricity distribution industry in general wiring, substation control and testing, and cable systems installation roles. Having worked with PowerNet and Decom, a testing & control systems contractor in Southland and several companies in the UK & Ireland, Heath has a broad knowledge of supply industry control wiring work.
Heath recently wired, installed and commissioned an 11-way 11kV switchboard for a major supply upgrade at Coronet Peak. The installation also included the wiring, installation and commissioning of an 11kV four bank 1200kVA power factor correction installation.
Heath is also a very experienced cable jointer with a number of extensive subdivision reticulation installations under his belt.
Heath is currently undertaking studying a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering through the Open Polytechnic in Wellington and the South Queensland University in Australia.
Izaac Hollegien, Line Mechanic
Electrical Registration (line mechanic), Live Line Certification (level four hot stick and glove & barrier)
Izaac started working for Delta in 1999 as a Line Mechanic where over the following seven years he gained extensive experience in overhead line work in the Queenstown Lakes District Area and beyond. His exposure to working at electrical reticulation systems on overhead and underground conversions and doing new sub division and other capital works projects at Delta allowed him to become a very skilled line mechanic. Working on projects in Central Otago exposed him to live line hot stick, glove & barrier work up to 11kv.
Craig O'Rorke, Supervisor
Electrical Registration (electrician)
Craig completed his apprenticeship in 1992 after working in most areas of the trade - Industrial, Commercial, Domestic. There then followed four years in the wholesale industry with a particular areas of responsibility being the management of the supply to larger projects such as the Tiwai Point upgrade and construction, upgrade work and maintenance for sawmills and dairy factories.
He was also engaged in the construction of commercial and industrial switchboards during quieter times during this period.
He then opened a new branch for a national electrical wholesaler in Invercargill and continued to manage that for 2 years before moving to Queenstown to manage a branch in the same group, which he did for three years.
Craig joined Peak Power Distribution in October 2008 with responsibilties in the supervision of staff as work, workshop and stock management.
Scott Melhop
National Certificate in Electrical Supply Level 4 and Cable Jointer
Scott joined Peak Power in 2005 and is now completing a double-major apprenticeship qualification in both the electrical installation and the electrical supply industries. To date Scott’s experience includes a wide range of HV and LV reticulation and installation work in sub divisions, commercial buildings and snow fields including assembling a variety of transformers.
Scott aims to complement his formal training with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering at the South Queensland University.
Robyn Webb
Accounts and Office Administrator
Robyn is responsible for the company’s day-to-day operation in the areas of accounting and job costing systems, debtors, creditors, payroll and general accounts and customer inquiries.
Robyn joined us with a strong background in customer front line management. Her role is pivotal in providing the first point of contact information and attending immediately to all customer queries. Robyn is currently studying a National Certificate of Business, Administration & Computing/Level 4.
Aaron Fisher
Cable Layer/Trenching
Aaron has worked throughout New Zealand in numerous positions and his versatility is his greatest strength. He is the company’s foremost specialist on cable laying installations and a team leader who contributes his expertise in the areas of cable installations, transformers, earths and street lighting. Aaron is skilled to working to plans and meeting project dead lines. As one of the longest-standing employees of Peak Power, Aaron is highly experienced in large-scale subdivision and capital projects.
